Skip to Content

Small businesses share their struggle during coronavirus pandemic

small businesses

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA,KECY) - Small business owners across the desert Southwest are feeling the financial impact of COVID-19. 

At Flautas y Sopas a local eatery in el Centro owner Jorge Luis Gallegos says he had to let go of half his staff to make ends meet.

"We are battling here to stay open. We’re selling about 40 percent of what we would sell on a monthly basis. We are struggling but the people still come and they keep coming. They take the necessary precautions as you can see we have hand sanitizer, social distancing markings. Everything the government asks for," said Gallegos.

He also says that certain necessary supplies have been hard to find.

"Hand sanitizer I had to get it in Mexicali because I couldn’t find it here. We bought several gallons. It’s a very good product and very well known. And here.... here we couldn’t find any and even to this day, we can’t find hand sanitizer. We have seen some and they say no alcohol and so we realized it’s not very good," said Gallegos.


Local supermarket manager Ernesto De la Cruz says his store ran oiut of canned goods and eggs in the first two weeks of California’s shelter in place order. Luckily he's been able to restock, but certain sanitary items are still hard to find.

"What we’re lacking is toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and rubbing alcohol this is what we’re struggling to get. But what we have most available right now is food and thank god we're doing ok," said De la Cruz.

Both De la Cruz and Gallegos credit the community’s support for staying afloat in these hard times.

Article Topic Follows: Imperial County

Jump to comments ↓

Gianella Ghiglino

Peruvian-born and LA raised Gianella Ghiglino joins the team from the San Fernando valley. “LA is the place that taught me how to breath and Peru is my breath.” She says she was inspired by the community she grew up in and began documenting her experience through poetry at the age of 7. “I wrote about everything I saw, felt and everything that inspired me.” When she entered High School she joined her school news station and realized that broadcast journalism allowed her to pursue her passion and her purpose all at once. Gianella attended Cal State Northridge and received a Bachelors degree in Broadcast Journalism and a minor in Spanish Broadcast Journalism, and Political Science. She did several internships while in College but most notably interned for PBS’s local LA station for three years. “My purpose is to share my story and of those in my community, my passion is writing.”

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

KYMA KECY is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.

Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here

If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.

Skip to content